PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Here is what happened last night

After visiting a friend around 10:00 pm, I saw a man and two kids walking each one with those wool blankets people do camping with. I stoppped and asked the guy where was he heading with the kids, he said that he was sent to a church from a semiranri where he was given some food and the wool blankets, but obviously he and the kid were not given a roof where to sleep and it was already late. I drove them to the chapel and waited to see what would happen to them I would had expected the person in charge at the church would let them at least stay the night, but "god´s house" door did not open that cold night for this man and his kids.

The guy at the church thru the "citofono" told him that they could no help him that he should go somewhere else, that La Alcadía got some programs etc.

I suggested the guy to take the kids to Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, he said he would not do it because they would not give him back the kids. The guy wanted to go to Bucaramanga to his mother in law house.

Now who was this guy, here is what he told me

He was a soldier for 9 years, one night they killed 7 guerrilleros and capture two of them alive. The guy with highest rank in his group, was going to kill cold blood the two captured guerrilleros, maybe he did, then , El grupo de apoyo" got to the place and saw what happened. Charges where issued to the guy in charge, "El Mayor" and all soldiers included the guy I picked up where asked to testify.

I undestood the guy I picked up was in some way of witness protecciont program, the Mayor was at large.

The father of the two kids and exsoldier wanted maybe more protection or justice done since he was obeying orders and needed the money for all his working years, "Pension" he tied himself in a croos at the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogotá, he was interviewed by Caracol and RCN, while he was tie up a high rank politician Ex-M19 told him, if you are sure about what you are doing, and since you tied up yourself why don´t you do it in your Uniform?

The guy did as the politician said and got more attention, some how the guy ended at the Fiscalia bunker, from where he was released without money, without the bus ticket to Bucaramanga for him and the kids, then went walking from one place to another, from Caracol to El Semianrio, then drove to the chapel. Needless to said at the end they were taken to Terminal de Transportes and hopefully by now the kids are with their grandma and the guy, who knows.

He might not be a saint, was a soldier but just as any guerillero is a human being whose kids don´t deserve the pain that goes with the War.

The guy said that Colombia is still being sold to USA, just like former presidents.

By webmanco on May 19, 2008, 08:27 in Friendly Talkzone.

morphus says on May 19, 2008, 10:20:

You paid for the bus tickets?

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webmanco says on May 19, 2008, 11:13:

Here is a reflection of what I see in PBH "indiferencia", and not surprisingly in Colombia, most wanting war over jobs and none discrimination. Jobs other than police justice etc.

http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2008-05-19/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR...

19 de Mayo de 2008

"Indiferencia de la ciudadanía con desmovilizados impedirá lograr la paz": Frank Pearl

"Por eso estaríamos perdiendo una gran oportunidad", agrega el Alto Consejero de la Reintegración y añade que "algunos ven el proceso como un problema del Gobierno".

EL TIEMPO: ¿Por qué lo dice?

Frank Pearl: En Montería, desmovilizados hicieron sus cursos de capacitación y empezaron a trabajar en una compañía y lo hicieron muy bien. Al año, supieron que eran desmovilizados y los sacaron.

Ese rechazo y esa discriminación hacia unas personas que hicieron parte de un proceso de paz hace imposible generar espacios para convivir pacíficamente y golpea el proceso. La sociedad colombiana debe ser consecuente.

¿Por qué hay un buen número de desmovilizados que han vuelto a delinquir?

Hay unos que están en municipios con una gran influencia del narcotráfico como Chigorodó, Carepa y Apartadó en el Urabá Antioqueño, Magdalena Medio y Córdoba.
Esas personas vienen de organizaciones delictivas y cuando consideran que no les alcanza la plata no hacen el esfuerzo y vuelven a delinquir.

Articulo completo
http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2008-05-19/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR...

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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toneloc24 says on May 19, 2008, 12:08:

Web - You tried to do a good thing in helping them out. I commend you for that.

Now the church??? Not gonna go into that other than to say, at the least, take in the kids for the night. At the very least.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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lampltr says on May 19, 2008, 13:56:

I second Toneloc Web, you did well my friend God Bless regardless!!

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Alma del Norte says on May 19, 2008, 14:05:

Bless your great big Colombian heart!

La vida es una rutina

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chester says on May 19, 2008, 15:34:

one day, this old gringo and a calena went to the bogota terminal and bought tickets to cali.

they made their way to the waiting area after getting some snacks and stuff for the ride and settled into some chairs next to the door.

there, they encountered a young, scared girl begging for busfare back to cali.

the suspicious old gringo asked the calena to check out the girl's story and id.

the girl had been working as a domestic in bogota and was homesick for cali and also, about 6 months knocked up. she was all of 15 years old.

so, the old gringo ended up springing for the bus ticket back to cali, food along the way, and after arrival in cali early in the morning hours, even taxi fare for the girl to get back to her barrio up on the hillsides of cali.

sometimes it's just someone in need of a little help.

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